Apple has confirmed details of the settlement for people whose children made in-app purchases without their knowledge. It works slightly differently to the way it was originally planned, meaning more people may qualify.

The settlement relates to the way Apple changed its rules on in-app purchases and passwords. After the change, once you typed in your iTunes store password it became possible to make further purchases (including in-app ones) for the next 15 minutes without having to reenter the password. For several weeks after making this change, Apple didn’t allow users to switch it off and thus once again require a password for all purchases.

The problem was that some parents were using the password to buy an app for a child to play, handing the iPhone or iPad over, then being surprised to find out the child had made in-app purchases. In one of the most extreme examples, players of Smurfs Village could pay $99.99 for a “wagon” of virtual smurfberries.

Apple was later hit with a class action case, which it decided to settle in February. It’s now published the full details of the proposed settlement. The settlement does require court confirmation, but that isn’t expected to be a problem.

Originally it appeared the settlement would only cover the 45 days between Apple introducing the 15 minute “no password” window and Apple introducing the option to switch the window off.

Now Apple has agreed the settlement will cover eligible purchases made before May 2 this year. However it will only pay out for purchases made during a 45-day period of the claimants choosing. The logic seems to be that this not only covers people hit during the original 45 days (when few people knew the purchasing rules had changed), but also those caught out later on.

It looks like a reasonable compromise between Apple and the customer’s respective responsibilities, the idea being that 45 days is long enough for people who didn’t understand the system to spot rogue purchases, figure out what had happened, then either switch off the 15-minute window or ban their child from ever touching an iOS device again in their life.

Apple has published a searchable list of games which are eligible for refunds. Only the specified games are covered and they are all ones that were rated as suitable for children.

The settlement means that anyone can get a flat $5 by simply making a declaration that they bought an eligible game, a child made an in-app purchase without the adult’s knowledge, and the adult didn’t share any passwords. Alternatively, you can claim the actual amount your child spent during the 45 days of your choice, though you’ll then have to detail the purchases on the claim form.

The refund will be made in the form of iTunes store credit in most cases. You’ll get it as cash if you no longer have an iTunes account. If the refund amount is $30 or more you can ask for it in cash as well. If Apple has already made a voluntary refund after you complained, this will be deducted from any refund you get under the settlement.

If you’re eligible for a refund, you’ll have to actively make a claim by January 13. It’s particularly important to act as if you don’t either make a claim or actively ask to be excluded from the settlement, you’ll be treated as having turned down the refund but also having given up the rights to take any independent legal action.